Law & Policy Active Updated Sep 2, 2026
California's non-UPF food seal
Where it stands, Sep 2, 2026 California's Senate voted 32-0 and its Assembly 72-0 to pass AB 2244, creating a Non-Ultraprocessed Certified seal that bars foods with 10% or more of calories from added sugar or saturated fat, high sodium-to-calorie ratios, or additives like non-nutritive sweeteners and emulsifiers, criteria that would disqualify many plant-based meats and dairy alternatives built on those same additives.
California's legislature passed AB 2244 near-unanimously, creating a first-in-the-nation Non-Ultraprocessed Certified seal that food makers can voluntarily add to products meeting the state's new definition of ultra-processed, while the bill's criteria would disqualify many plant-based meats and dairy alternatives built on common additives. This storyline tracks whether Governor Newsom signs the bill, how its criteria affect plant-based products, and whether other states adopt similar certification.
What the brief said to watch
- Due Sep 30, 2026 Governor Newsom must sign or veto AB 2244 by September 30 [83]
The story so far
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Sep 2, 2026 Latest
California's Senate voted 32-0 and its Assembly 72-0 to pass AB 2244, creating a Non-Ultraprocessed Certified seal that bars foods with 10% or more of calories from added sugar or saturated fat, high sodium-to-calorie ratios, or additives like non-nutritive sweeteners and emulsifiers, criteria that would disqualify many plant-based meats and dairy alternatives built on those same additives. Governor Gavin Newsom has until September 30 to sign it.
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